Looking for tips to prevent yarn tangles when crocheting motifs

I currently have 11 balls of yarn attached to my project at the same time while crocheting motifs, and they’re all somehow tangled up with each other. Are there perhaps ways to prevent this “yarn chaos” before it happens? Right now, I’m spending more time untangling the yarns than I am actually crocheting—there’s got to be something I can do about this, right?

Best regards,
Ulli

I’m having the same problem right now with 6 balls of yarn. When I’m done with one for the moment, I move it back over to the other side and then pick up the next one… That way, I sort them out as I crochet and make sure nothing crosses over. I’m sitting on the sofa, though, with the balls arranged in a star shape around me.

When I want to stand up, it takes a while because I have to free myself first.

You could also make your own yarn box, though.
Divide a box or cardboard container into 11 compartments and cut holes in the lid for the individual strands to come out of. It’s better to do that at the beginning of the project, though, because now that all the strands are already attached to your work, it’s rather difficult.

Take 11 containers - tin cans from fruit, vegetables, etc. work well, as long as they’ve been opened with a can opener that cuts the lid off cleanly (otherwise you’ll damage your yarn). You can either arrange them individually around you or (as I do) glue them together with a little hot glue.

That way, the balls of yarn won’t keep getting mixed up anymore.

For now, I’ve been making do with one of those cardboard boxes for 6 beer bottles ;-o
My 6 balls of yarn fit perfectly into the compartments, and there were small openings at the bottom through which the yarn could come out.
Maybe a plastic box like the ones used for Christmas tree ornaments would work too—those also have separate compartments...

There are boxes for gift ribbon with separate compartments and a hole where the individual ribbons come out. I made one myself out of a shoebox, cardboard scraps, and glue or packing tape. 
You can also buy one, of course—just google box for gift ribbon.
It worked with 5 balls of yarn, so it should actually work with 11 balls too!